OIIQ Code of Ethics PDF

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OIIQ Code of Ethics - used for law/ethics etc
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Code of ethics of nurses Because we care about Quebecers’ health

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“Our dream for Quebecers’ health is that everyone will have access to quality healthcare when they need it.” Lucie Tremblay

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Working together to shape nursing care for tomorrow This updated version of the Code of ethics of nurses more than ever reflects thedream we all share. It is the most extensive update of the past decade. It will give Quebec nurses themeans to adapt our everyday practice to Quebecers’ new healthcare needs, asitnow covers theauthorization to prescribe, psychotherapypractice, the assessmentof mental disorders, and the useofassessment tools and socialmedia. Because we believe that nurses must receive the best possible training to keep pace with rapidly evolving scientific knowledge, health technology and social needs, thisCodewillbe accompanied by the complementary training and communications necessary to master its contents and excel intheprofession. We consider our profession’s admirable reputation to be of the utmost importance, andwe invite you to share any questions or concerns you may haveas your updated Code of ethics comes into effect.

Lucie Tremblay, Nurse, MSc, AdmA, CHE President

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Values of the nursing profession

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The shared values of our profession are based on its history and its culture. These fundamental values reflect the principles that guide nurses’ actions in their practice. All nurses adhere to these values and are committed topreserving the image and credibility of the profession.

Professional ethics are intended to regulate activities performed as part of one’s professional practice. They are inspired by the values that motivate professional conduct and are spelled out in professional codes of ethics. These values broadly define ideal practice, and include competence, a sense of responsibility, and social commitment. The Code of ethics helps define what this ideal means in everyday practice, by stipulating the duties and obligations arising from this shared ideal.

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The following values served as the pillars forthe different divisions of the Code of ethics of nurses and helped define theresulting professional duties and obligations. The revision of the Code updatesnurses’ professional duties and obligations, whilereaffirming the values of the nursingprofession.

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Integrity Integrity refers to honesty and truthfulness. It transcends all dimensions of the practice of the profession and is the cornerstone of nurses’ professional ethics.

Respect for the client This means both establishing and maintaining a relationship of trust, and recognizing the client’s uniqueness, right to privacy and decision-making autonomy, as expressed in his or her right to make choices and to be informed.

Professional autonomy This relates to nurses’ ability to make objective and independent decisions in the client’s interest, and to be accountable and responsible for them.

Professional competence Competence refers to nurses’ responsibility to maintain and update their knowledge and skills and to take account of evidence-based data and best practices. It also means nurses’ ability to recognize and respect their limits in practising the profession.

Excellence in care Excellence in care is the raison d’être of the nursing profession, andreflects the importance accorded to human life. It means striving to ensure the well-being and security of clients of every age, at every stage in their lives, and is the ultimate goal of the nursing profession.

Professional collaboration This value reflects the importance of acting in partnership with other professionals and individuals involved, so as to ensure and optimize the quality and security of care and services for clients.

Humanity Demonstrating humanity in the provision of care means, in particular, showing generosity, tolerance and solidarity in dealings with others. It lets nurses show empathy and recognize others’ uniqueness. These values were adopted by the OIIQ Board of Directors in December 2014.

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The Code of ethics of nurses 8

The Code of ethics of nurses is a keystone of the Order’s professional legislation. The 2015 edition of this regulation is the most extensive update of the past decade. It is intended to adapt the Code to the new realities facing nurses, including the authorization to prescribe, psychotherapy practice, the assessment of mental disorders, and the use of assessment tools and social media. Many sections in the Code also deal withpreserving professional secrecy and avoiding conflicts ofinterest. The Code of ethics informs nurses of their duties and obligations toward the public, the clients and the profession.

Code of ethics of nurses (chapter I-8, s. 9) – Professional Code (chapter C-26, s. 87) – Nurses Act (chapter I-8, s. 3)

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CHAPTER I

DUTIES TOWARD THE PUBLIC, CLIENTS AND THE PROFESSION

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DIVISION I DUTIES INHERENT TOTHE PRACTICE OFTHE PROFESSION §1. General provisions 1.

A nurse shall come to the aid of anyone whose life is in peril, either personally or by calling for aid, by giving necessary and immediate assistance to that person, except in the event of danger to the nurse or a third party, or unless the nurse has another valid reason.

2.

A nurse may not refuse to provide professional services to a person on the basis of race, colour, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, civil status, age, religion, political convictions, language, ethnic or national extraction, social origin or condition, a handicap or the use of any means to palliate a handicap. However, a nurse may, in the interest of the client, refer the client to another nurse. In this Code, unless the context indicates otherwise, “client” means any person who receives care, treatment or other professional services.

3.

A nurse shall not perform any act or behave in any manner that is contrary to what is generally admissible in the practice of the profession or that may tarnish the image of the profession.

3.1.

A nurse shall take the necessary measures to ensure respect of the client’s dignity, freedom and integrity.

4.

In connection with the care and treatment provided to a client, a nurse may not use or dispense products or methods that could be harmful to health or miracle treatments, nor may a nurse consult, collaborate with or refer a client to a person who uses or dispenses such products, methods or miracle treatments.

5.

A nurse shall respect the right of the client to consult another nurse, another health professional or any other person of the client’s choice.

6.

A nurse who is informed of the holding of an inquiry or who has been served with a complaint or who is informed of the holding of a professional inspection concerning her or him shall not harass, intimidate or threaten the person who requested the holding of the inquiry or any other person implicated in the events related to the inquiry or complaint, inspection.

7.

A nurse shall take into account all of the foreseeable consequences that her or his research and work will have for society and for human life, safety and health.

7.1.

A nurse may not undertake or collaborate in any project involving research on humans that has not been approved by a research ethics committee formed or designated by the Minister of Health and Social Services or by another research ethics committee that respects recognized standards in matters of research ethics, particularly in regard to the composition of the committee and the methods by which it operates.

7.2.

A nurse who undertakes or collaborates in research must advise the research ethics committee or another appropriate authority where the research or the manner in which it is being conducted appears not to conform to generally recognized scientific principles and ethical standards.

7.3.

A nurse must refuse to collaborate or cease collaborating in any research activity where the risks to the health of subjects appear disproportionate having regard to the advantages that they stand to derive from the research or, if applicable, the advantages that they could derive from the usual care.

8.

A nurse shall, to the extent that she or he is able, exchange knowledge with other nurses, nursing students and other persons engaged in the process of application preceding admission to the profession.

9.

A nurse may not be released from personal civil liability in the practice of her or his profession. In particular, a nurse is prohibited from inserting any clause directly or indirectly excluding such liability, in whole or in part, or from being a party to a contract for professional services containing any such clause.

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§2. Integrity 10.

A nurse shall fulfill her or his professional duties with integrity.

11.

A nurse shall not abuse the trust of her or his client.

12.

A nurse shall report any incident or accident that results from her or his intervention or omission. The nurse shall not attempt to conceal such incident or accident. When such an incident or accident has or could have consequences for the client’s health, the nurse shall promptly take the necessary measures to remedy, minimize or offset the consequences of the incident or accident.

When informing the public of a new method of care or a treatment which has not been sufficiently tested, a nurse must mention that fact and express the appropriate caution.

§3. Condition liable to impair the quality of care and services 16.

In addition to the circumstances contemplated by section 54 of the Professional Code (chapter C-26), a nurse shall refrain from practising her or his profession when she or he is in a state that is liable to impair the quality of care and services.

13.

In particular, a nurse is in a state that is liable to impair the quality of care and services if she or he is under the influence of alcoholic beverages, drugs, hallucinogens, narcotic or anesthetic preparations or any other substance which may cause intoxication, a diminution or disruption of the faculties or unconsciousness.

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§4. Competence

A nurse shall not appropriate medications or other substances, including drugs, narcotic or anesthetic preparations or any other property belonging to a person with whom she or he interacts in the practice of the profession. A nurse shall not, in respect of a client’s record or any report, file, research record or document related to the profession: (1) falsify same, in particular by altering any notes already entered therein or by inserting any notes under a false signature; (2) fabricate any records, reports, files or documents; (3) enter therein any false information; (4) fail to enter therein any necessary information.

14.0.1.

A nurse shall not issue to any person, or for any reason whatsoever, a false certificate or any written or oral information that she or he knows to be erroneous.

14.1.

A nurse must not knowingly conceal from the persons or authorities concerned the negative findings of any research in which she or he has collaborated.

15.

A nurse shall refrain from expressing or giving incomplete or groundless opinions or advice. To that end, the nurse shall attempt to acquire thorough knowledge of the facts before giving an opinion or advice.

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15.1.

17.

A nurse shall act competently in fulfilling her or his professional duties. To that end, the nurse shall take into consideration the limits of her or his knowledge and skills.

18.

A nurse shall practise her or his profession in accordance with generally accepted standards of practice and scientific principles. To that end, she or he shall update and develop her or his professional knowledge and skills.

19.

If the client’s condition so requires, a nurse shall consult another nurse, another health professional or another competent person or refer the client to one of such persons.

§5. Professional independence and conflict of interest 20.

A nurse shall subordinate her or his personal interest to that of her or his client.

21.

A nurse shall safeguard her or his professional independence at all times. In particular, a nurse shall practise her or his profession with objectivity and disregard any intervention by a third party that could affect the performance of her or his professional duties to the detriment of the client.

21.1.

A nurse who organizes a training or information activity or who acts as a resource person as part of such an activity shall declare any direct or indirect interest in any commercial firm involved in holding the activity, to the participants and, if applicable, to any other person organizing such an activity.

21.2.

A nurse who is authorized to issue prescriptions must, except in emergencies or in cases which are manifestly not serious, refrain from issuing a prescription to any person with whom she or he has a relationship likely to harm the quality of her or his practice, in particular her or his spouse or children.

24.

In the event of a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest, a nurse shall take reasonable measures to ensure that care, treatment or other professional services are provided by another nurse or another health professional or another person authorized by regulation to provide them, as applicable, unless the situation requires that the nurse administer or continue to administer them. In such circumstances, the client shall be advised of the situation, to the extent permitted by the circumstances.

24.1.

A nurse who undertakes or collaborates in research must declare her or his interest and disclose any apparent or potential conflict of interest to the research ethics committee.

§6. Availability and diligence 25.

In the practice of her or his profession, a nurse shall display due diligence and availability.

26.

A nurse shall not induce any person in insistent terms to make use of her or his professional services or to collaborate in any research.

Where her or his specific knowledge and skills in a given area are needed in order to provide safe care, treatment or other professional services to a client, a nurse who is consulted by another nurse or another health professional shall provide the latter with her or his opinion and recommendations within a reasonable time.

23.

26.1.

22.

A nurse shall avoid any situation in which she or he would be in conflict of interest. In particular, a nurse is in a conflict of interest situation: (1) when the interests concerned are such that the nurse may be influenced to favour certain of them over those of her or his client or the nurse’s judgment and loyalty toward her or his client may be unfavourably affected; (2) when the nurse receives, in addition to the remuneration to which she or he is entitled, any rebate, commission or benefit related to her or his professional activities or her or his research activities; (3) when the nurse pays, offers to pay or undertakes to pay any rebate, commission or benefit related to her or his professional activities or her or his research activities.

A nurse may not terminate the professional services provided to a client unless she or he has sound and reasonable grounds, in particular: (1) when she or he is solicited by the client to commit an unlawful act or one contrary to this Code; (2) when the client fails to respect the conditions agreed upon in the contract for professional services, including fees, and it is impossible to negotiate a reasonable agreement with the client to have them respected; (3) when the nurse decides to reduce or terminate her or his practice.

27.

Before ceasing to provide a client with professional services, a nurse shall: (1) give the client reasonable notice; (2) take necessary measures to ensure that such termination of services is not detrimental to the client.

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DIVISION II RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE NURSE AND THE CLIENT §1. Relationship of trust 28.

A nurse shall seek to establish and maintain a relationship of trust with her or his client.

29.

A nurse shall act respectfully toward the client and the client’s spouse, family and significant others.

30.

When a nurse provides professional services for a couple or a family, she or he shall preserve the professional secrecy of each member of the couple or family.

32.

A nurse shall not disclose the fact that a person had recourse to her or his services, except if such disclosure is necessary in the interest of the client.

32.1.

Before making an audio or video recording of an interview or activity or taking photographs of a client, a nurse shall obtain written authorization from the client or the client’s legal representative. This authorization must specify the intended use of the recording or photograph and the measures required for revoking the authorization.

A nurse shall respect, within the limits of what is generally admissible in the practice of the profession, the client’s values and personal convictions.

32.2.

§2. Provisions to preserve the secrecy of confidential information

In this context, the nurse shall give the group members instructions to enable them to respect the confidential nature of the information about other members’ or third parties’ private lives.

31.

33.

A nurse shall abide by the rules set forth in the Professional Code (chapter C-26) in regard to the obligation to preserve the secrecy of confidential information that becomes known to her or him in the practice of her or his profession and the cases where she or he may be released from the obligation of secrecy.

31.1.

A nurse who, in accordance with the third paragraph of section 60.4 of the Professional Code (chapter C-26), communicates information that is protected by professional secrecy, shall enter the following in the client’s record: (1) the reasons supporting the decision to communicate the information, including the identity of the person who caused the nurse to communicate the information and the identity of the person or group of persons exposed to the danger; (2) the elements of the communication including the date and time of the communication, the content of the communication, the mode of communication used and the identity of the person to whom the communication was made.

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31.2.

When a nurse provides professional services to a group, she or he shall inform the members of the group of the possibility that aspects of a member’s or a third party’s private life may be disclosed.

A nurse shall take reasonable measures to ensure that persons under her or his authority, in her or his employ or who are practising under her or his supervision do not disclose any confidential information concerning the client.

34.

A nurse shall not make use of confidential information to the detriment of a client or with a view to obtaining, directly or indirectly, a benefit for herself or himself or for another per...